Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to Fresno to discuss water storage issues. That event will take place at Friant Dam. You can view a Webcast of the water meeting on the governor's Web site. Tune in here at 10:45 a.m. Monday.

The governor will then head over to The Bee for a meeting with our Editorial Board, and then goes to the Fresno Rotary Club to give a speech. We're looking for a lively session with the governor. He usually approaches editorial board meetings with humor and candor. This will be Schwarzenegger's third appearance before our Editorial Board.

Interestingly, Gray Davis came to see us several times before he was elected governor. But once he got into office, he never showed up again.

Posted by Jim Boren at 1:35 PM | Permalink

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger came to the San Joaquin Valley today to sign an executive order to continue a crucial partnership between the state and the region. That's a good thing, of course, but this post is about the way the governor used the latest technology to get his message out about the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.

Schwarzenegger used traditional means -- a news conference and a very public signing of the executive order at Fresno City College. But he also appeared on a Webcast. Anyone can go to a computer at anytime and watch the events live. It's on the governor's Web site. Here's the link. It's like being able to TIVO the news conference. There'a also a photo gallery of the events and a PDF file of the actual executive order. It's all you need if you're a political junkie or policy wonk -- or just a big fan of the governor.

The governor and his staff clearly know how to use the media -- all the media -- to put him in the most favorable light.

If I were teaching a class on politicians using the media, this event would be part of the first lecture.

Continue reading "High-tech governor" »

Posted by Jim Boren at 10:03 PM | Permalink

The political sucking-up has already started in the governor's race. The latest is Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic challenger Phil Angelides showing up at the American Legion convention in Fresno to tell veterans how much they'll do for them if they get their support in November. The candidates do this at every group they appear before -- real estate agents, mortgage brokers, teachers, farmers -- you name the special-interest group and they'll have a giveaway program for them.

Angelides seemed to offer the most goodies Thursday, including waiving fees at public colleges for National Guard members; ensuring that all National Guard families have health insurance; provide family leave for spouses of activated National Guard members, and increase access to the California Military Family Relief Fund.

Schwarzenegger said veterans homes are a top priority for him, and the state will open five new homes in the next seven years.

(Read this story about the candidates' Fresno visit.)

No wonder California can't live within its means. The politicians promise that the taxpayers will fund everyone's needs. These are mostly good causes, but doesn't someone have to say, "How much is all this going to cost the taxpayers and can we afford it?"

Posted by Jim Boren at 2:56 PM | Permalink

Arnold Schwarzenegger may get political sand kicked in his face by the Legislature or the labor unions, but when it comes to manliness, he's still "Mr. Big." In honor of Father's Day, the staff members of the Minneapolis Star Tribune rated a bunch of Daddy diaper bags for manliness (1 for "hand it over to Mom" and 10 for "just call me Schwarzenegger.")

If you saw Guy Keeler's Sunday Page 1 story on full-time fathers, you get it. Even in 2006 some people don't understand men who are willing to take a leave of office from the workplace to raise their kids. Well, who cares? I bet most of the mouthiest ones are just jealous and would like to be able to do it themselves. In Norway, for example, they consider it so important that parents take off time with their children that they pay most of their salaries for the first year so they'll stay home and bond with the new baby. But hey, probably even in Norway a guy carrying around a pursey-looking bag with bunnies and teddy bears on it is either completely secure or just asking for it.

So, it's America's entrepreneurs to the rescue. The Strib layout featured camouflage diaper bags and sporty-looking vests with that store diapers in the inside pockets. There's one that looks for the world like a a shoulder holster -- how cool that it that holds baby powder instead of a pistol. The writers describe these bags as functional and "humiliation free." The top-rated Schwarzenegger special is all black with a dragon on the front. It even has a place for his cell phone. a cell-phone. One reviewer said it went just a little too far and looked like gang daddy. Other bags sported camo patterns perfect for Marine Daddy. One had the Grateful Dead on the front. I'm amused by the names of the sources of these things: www.psychobabyonline.com; www.diaperdude. I'm definitely putting these on my list for every baby shower coming up.

Posted by Gail Marshall at 9:11 AM | Permalink

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is going online this morning and wants you to connect with him. You can ask the governor questions beginning at 10:30 a.m. by going to this link. The online video question-and-answer session will be conducted from the governor's press briefing room in the Capitol. After it's over, you can watch the vide of him answering the emails from Californians.

Margita Thompson, the governor's press secretary, told the Associated Press that the Web cast is intended to allow constituents who normally would not have an opportunity to question the governor to connect with him online.

It's a great idea. Blog on, governor.

Posted by Jim Boren at 7:57 AM | Permalink